Phony weed crackdown in Seabrook

Friday

Sep 13, 2013 at 2:00 AM

SEABROOK — Residents are calling on selectmen to stop what they called the "destructive presence" of synthetic marijuana in town, which is being sold in at least two stores under the guise of herbal incense with names like "K2" or "Spice."

Chrissa Gerard

SEABROOK — Residents are calling on selectmen to stop what they called the "destructive presence" of synthetic marijuana in town, which is being sold in at least two stores under the guise of herbal incense with names like "K2" or "Spice."

While the product says it is "not for human consumption," residents said synthetic marijuanas are frequently bought by people over age 18 and resold to local teenagers who inhale the toxic vapors to get high.

Kiki, who wanted her last name withheld because she is a founding member of Seabrook Watchdogs, an anonymous community crime deterrence group, and others on Monday requested the board address the issue by crafting an enforceable ordinance to ban all synthetic cannabinoids in Seabrook.

Selectmen and the town manager said they supported the residents' request to ban the substances, with some caveats.

"We want to make sure that what we do has the legal backing that we need," said Town Manger William Manzi.

Selectman Raymond Smith agreed. "This stuff is serious. It does hurt, it does kill," he said. "I want laws that get it off the street, and I want to do it right."

Several residents spoke of the need to get the substances off the street. Cathy Schrempf-Gosselin related how her 12-year-old grandson, now 13, was enticed into using synthetic cannabinoids by two adult Seabrook residents. The boy, she said, stole money and jewelry from his family to support his habit and suffered brain damage from his drug use.

A letter from an anonymous Amesbury, Mass., father was shared at the meeting. After his son smoked K2, the youth experienced pain, vomiting and seizure-like symptoms. The boy recovered after a hospital visit, and his father investigated the source of the drug: Seabrook. According to the letter writer, "The word on the street is, go up to Seabrook to get K2."

Joan Atchue of Seabrook noted that cutting off the supply of the drugs would prevent addiction to the synthetics and free up Seabrook police resources. She also suggested arresting those who sell the substances.

"They should be locked up just like those that are selling drugs on the street," she said.

Judy McKinney spoke briefly, with one pointed question to the board and police: "Does someone have to die before this is stopped?"

Kiki said a 2011 Town Meeting warrant article that passed 1,064 to 349, made the sale of synthetic cannabinoids illegal in Seabrook. However, that article did not address penalties, enforcement or the broad range of synthetic cannabinoids that currently exist, making it difficult to enforce.

"Seabrook citizens have made their choice clear," she said, on the need for an enforceable ordinance.

The federal Drug Enforcement Agency has repeatedly banned several of the substances that make up synthetic marijuana. However, police said manufacturers skirt state and federal laws by producing a constant stream of slightly tweaked variants, chemically modifying the drugs so that they are not included on current lists of banned substances.

In recent months Seabrook Police Sgt. Brett Walker has been studying ordinances other towns use to halt the sale, use or distribution of synthetic cannabinoids.

Some towns, he said, have worked to prevent the sale. A Wolfeboro ordinance restricts their passage through its roads, effectively making it illegal to ship to any of its retail establishments.

In Seabrook, police can currently only enforce the illegality of the cannabinoids' use; i.e., inhaling for toxic effect.

Walker noted it was difficult to know the exact number of arrests related to the drugs, which may be involved in other crimes such as domestic violence, shoplifting and burglary.

Selectmen Chairman Aboul Khan put forward the motion to empower Manzi to work with Seabrook police and legal counsel to find a solution. Manzi was directed to make a recommendation to the board within one month, with a special nighttime meeting to present the recommendation to the town and for the board to vote on it. The motion passed unanimously.

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
seacoastonline.com ~ 111 New Hampshire Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service